Leverkusen appoint Erik ten Hag on a two-year deal replacing Real Madrid-bound Xabi Alonso in the vacant role.
Bayer Leverkusen appoint Erik ten Hag, the former Manchester United and Ajax coach as Xabi Alonso’s replacement.
Leverkusen, who placed second in the Bundesliga this season, have pounced on the Dutchman fired by United in October, and the Basque is scheduled to be introduced on Monday.
The 55-year-old, who formerly coached at Bayern Munich in German football, has a contract that expires in 2027.
After coaching Ajax to the semi-finals of the 2018–19 Champions League in 2017, he won three Eredivisie titles before joining United as coach in 2022.
His team’s performance declined the following season after winning the League Cup and placing third in his debut season. In October, he was fired after Premier League results continued to decline, even though United won the FA Cup in 2024.
With just Atalanta in the Europa League final standing in the way of a treble, Alonso guided Bayer to the 2023–24 Bundesliga title, the team’s first league title and German Cup. Bayern Munich was able to win the title again this season, but Ten Hag will take over a team that is without Jeremie Frimpong, who is heading to Liverpool, and Florian Wirtz, who was strongly linked to a move to Liverpool over the weekend.
“Bayer are one of the best clubs in Germany and also among the top clubs in Europe,” said Ten Hag. “The club offers outstanding conditions, I’ve been very impressed with the discussions of the management. I’ve come to Leverkusen to continue with the ambition shown in recent years. It’s an attractive challenge to set up something together in this period of change and develop an ambitious team.”